“Council is aware that the Wilson Street car park is heavily used at present,” he said.

“But there remains space capacity in the nearby SS&A car park.

“We will be undertaking parking surveys across the CBD during February to gauge the current level of usage of all on-street and off-street public car parks.”

ATO staff are among the first to fill the Wilson Street car park with some starting at 7am.

The car park at the rear of the tax office was closed in the lead-up to Christmas and will remain shut while the markets retail area is constructed under the Volt Lane car park in the first half of this year.

Those who arrive too late to Wilson Park have opted to park in restricted areas within the CBD and run the risk of fines.

Mr Swann said the scenario would last another month.

“The Kiewa Street car park is scheduled to re-open in early March following the completion of rehabilitation works.

“This will provide an additional 365 all day parking spaces in the CBD.

“Council will undertake further parking surveys in March.”

Volt Lane developer David Harper will build another 246 car spaces in Kiewa Street with work to start this year.